Imperfect Endings

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Zoe Carter's life on the West Coast takes an unexpected turn when her independent mother, Margaret, decides to "end things" due to her battle with Parkinson's disease. Margaret insists on having her three daughters present when she takes this step, leaving Zoe stunned and concerned about the implications of participating in her mother's suicide. Despite her efforts to dissuade Margaret, the topic dominates their conversations for nearly a year, with Margaret casually discussing methods and timing for her planned death. As Zoe navigates between her family in California and her mother's home in Washington, D.C., she becomes increasingly involved in Margaret's plans. This includes helping her procure lethal drugs and enduring an awkward meeting with a representative from the Hemlock Society. Striving to be the "good daughter," Zoe faces tension with her two older sisters, who have complicated relationships with their mother. Their discussions about supporting Margaret's choice bring to light old conflicts and memories from their childhood, overshadowed by their mother's elegance and their father's infidelity. This narrative captures the challenges and joys of the "sandwich generation" while offering a thought-provoking perspective on assisted suicide, ultimately portraying a family's journey as they learn to let go of a woman determined to die on her own terms.